by Maya Alshawa

CFV Internship Reflection

During my internship at the Center for Faith and Vocation as the interfaith intern, I have gained both knowledge and experience about the meaning of interfaith. Before, interfaith had a simple meaning to me, and that was simply the interaction of as little as 2 people with different religious backgrounds. Throughout this semester, I learned that interfaith engagement can come in many forms, and that it results in stronger relationships, understanding, tolerance, and engagement.

The main event that I worked on this semester was organizing an interfaith service event at Gleaner’s food bank. Sometimes, people fail to see the overlap between religious ideals and beliefs. This event highlighted the importance of service, or helping others, which is a topic that most understand and encourage, regardless of religious or philosophical beliefs. This brought together a group of students and faculty members who could work side by side to help those who are hungry in the Indianapolis area. It invited the concept of interaction, conversation, and engagement between people of different faiths.

This semester, I also helped develop a collaborative grant through the CFV. This grant encourages collaboration amongst communities in the CFV. All 14 communities of the CFV are active, but often, not with each other. This grant encourages collaborative, interfaith work to take place between the communities. Lastly, this semester, I developed a series of posters to hang around campus that spread awareness about interfaith and educate students on how they can be engaged in interfaith activities on campus.

Through the different things I have done this semester while being an interfaith intern, I have explored new avenues of what interfaith means. It can be present in dialogue, pictures, service, collaboration, or activity. It can lead to discovery and understanding, and I think that at the end of this internship, that’s the most important thing I am taking away from the semester.